Ariel Castro, 52, who owned the house where the three women are thought to have spent the last ten years, and his brothers Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50, are in custody although no charges have yet been filed.

It is thought up to five children were born in the house over the last decade, but police said earlier no human remains had been recovered from the property, although there was evidence the three women had been restrained with ropes and chains.

Police chief Michael McGrath said Michelle Knight, Mrs Berry and Gina DeJesus were all in good condition considering what had happened.

He added the women had rarely been allowed to exit the house and when they were it was only to the backyard.